Gurbani Raag Bihagaraa

Bihagara is very similar to the modern and yen , popular raga Biliag. The
resemblance is so close that many performers have trouble maintaining the significance
of each. Bihagara is not given in the Ragmald. Today it is classified under the Bilaval
thata. Guru Rain Das, Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur set a total of 17 sabdas, chhants
and a var to this raga. The performance time is between y p.m. and midnight, and the
mood is devotional and tranquil. The texts composed to this raga describe the complete
peace and response that come to man when he surrenders all to the Lord.

Aroh : Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa Ni Sa

Avroh : Sa Ni Dha Pa Ni Dha Pa Dha Ga Ma Ga Re Sa

Vadi : ga

Samvadi : Ni

Introduction :

Raga Bihagra is made up of ragas Kedara, Gauri and Siam. There is no mention of this raga in the
Ragamala listed at the end of Guru Granth Sahib. In the Kali Nath School of music it is listed as a
consort of raga Bhairav, whereas in the Bharat School it is listed as a son of raga Deepak, and in
the Hindi Shabad Sagar it is listed as a son of raga Hindol. In Nad Binod's school it is titled as
'Bihag, and Chhaya Bihag'. According to Bhai Kahn Singh it is a form of raga Bilawal.

This raga is sung at the second part of the night i.e., from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. The season of its
recitation is winter (hement) i.e., during November and Decembe. In Guru Granth Sahib it has hymns
from pages 537 - 556 ( 20 pages).

The Composers:

The composers of bani (hymns) in this raga are:

Gurus

Guru Nanak Dev

Guru Amardas

Guru Ramdas

Guru Arjan Dev

Guru Tegh Bahadur

Bhagats:

There is no Bhagat bani in this raga.

The structure:

The sequence of the structure of compositions in this raga are:

Gurubani:

Shabads ( 3 and 4 padas)

Shabads Chhant

Var

Matrix

VISUAL ANALYSIS

Count of the use of Managals:

Complete Mool Mantar = 1 at page 537
Ik-ongkar Satgur Prasadh = 5

Placement and count of rahaus in this raga:

In this raga there are only two shabads, one of Guru Arjan Dev and one of Guru Tegh Bahadur, rest of
the compositions are chhants and a var. Both shabads have rahau verse in them, in the first shabad
of Guru Ramdas, it is placed after the first pada, whereas in the second shabad of Guru Tegh Bahadur
it is placed in the beginning of the shabad.

Diversification of headings & subheadings in this raga

Page number

Heading/Subheading

537

Raga Bihagra chaupadas Mehla 5 ghar 2

537

Raga Bihagra Mehla 9

537

Raga Bihagra Chhant Mehla 4 Ghar 1

541

Bihagra Mehla 5 Chhant Ghar 1

Composers Structure of Bani

Padas

Ashtpadis

Specialist

Chts

Specialist

Var

Sloaks*

Gurus

2

3

4

5

6

8 (padas)

untiled

Titled

Nanak

2

Amardas

40

Ramdas

6

1 (21

pauris)

2

Arjan Dev

1

9

2

Tegh

Bahadur

1

***In addition to the above sloaks, there are also three sloaks titled as of Bhai Mardana. Many
scholars argue that these sloaks are of Guru Nanak Dev rather than of Bhai Mardana.

***All sloaks are included in the Var of Guru Ramdas. The comment'Shud' is stated at the end of the
var.